How to Make Quark- Make Creamy German Quark with a Yogurt Maker

Quark is a delicious and very versatile creamy dairy product from Germany. For those of you not familiar with it, it’s almost like a very thick yogurt, or a looser whipped cream cheese. It doesn’t have the tang of a yogurt though. Because it’s not sweet or salt, quark can be used in a number of ways; spread on bread, served with fruit for a healthy dessert, baked into delicious cheesecakes, or even mixed with savory herbs for a wonderful dip.

A recent post about Quark on the Facebook page got a lot of comments…. mostly from people who miss having it easily available here in the United States. Strangely, although we have what seems like thousands of different yogurts in the dairy aisle, something as basic as Quark seldom appears. And if you do find it, it can be costly.

Because I LOVE a good German Cheesecake, and Quark is an essential ingredient for a real German Cheesecake, I’ve learned to make it myself. Lots of trial and error… and a bit of frustration… but I think I’ve got the recipe and technique worked out. And now I will share it with you.

how to make Quark

Make Quark at Home

I will start off by saying,  you have to really want Quark to go through the bother of making it yourself. Not that it’s difficult, in the opposite, it’s quite simple. Mostly it’s time consuming. And in the end, you don’t get a whole lot of Quark for the amount of milk. STILL… you get enough, and since Quark doesn’t last forever in the refrigerator, you don’t want to make more than you can use up.

Home Made Quark Recipe

I use a Yogurt Maker to make my Quark. The Yogurt Maker has a timer and sits on the counter where I can see it. And mine came with a fine meshed strainer… essential for the process.

how to make quark

Homemade Quark Recipe

Homemade Quark can be used for baking, as a base for dips, or as a delicious spread on bread.
This recipe makes approximately 350g... the amount you get in a small container in Germany.
Cook Time 11 hours

Equipment

  • Yogurt Maker with strainer is best
  • 1 Fine Mesh Strainer if the yogurt make doesn't come with it
  • 1 Bowl that the strainer can rest on

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cup WHOLE Milk
  • ¼ cup Buttermilk whole is best, low fat is ok

Instructions
 

  • Pour the milk and buttermilk into the Yogurt Maker. Set for 13 hours... and then walk away.Check the batch. If it doesn't "set" you might have to run it a few more hours.
  • Put a fine- meshed strainer over a bowl/container, and pour/scoop the thickened milk into it. Cover with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.
  • Let sit for at least 12 hours.  (Pour off the whey/liquid at the bottom of the container from time to time. Some people save this, but I don't know how to use it, so I don't)
  • Scoop the Quark out of the sieve into a bowl. Use or refrigerate for one week.
  • NOTE- some of the whey at the bottom of the container might look "Thick"... you can pour this back through the strainer to catch more Quark. It's not a lot, maybe another Tablespoon or so, but my Oma taught me to hate waste.

Notes

This recipe uses whole milk. Many recipes use buttermilk, but I have a hard time sourcing full fat Buttermilk where I live. You can't use low-fat buttermilk to make Quark, the result is too liquid. I found out that by adding a little bit of the low-fat buttermilk to whole milk, you get the flavor profile you want.

Buy Your Yogurt Maker HERE

I used the Dash Greek Yogurt maker for years. But it seems to be unavailable now. These highly rated Yogurt Makers work the same way… and they come with a mesh strainer.

Yogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker with Adjustable Time & Temperature, Multifunctional Yogurt Maker Machine with 1 Quart Glass Jars and Strainer for Yogurt, Greek Yogurt, Natto, Rice WineYogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker with Adjustable Time & Temperature, Multifunctional Yogurt Maker Machine with 1 Quart Glass Jars and Strainer for Yogurt, Greek Yogurt, Natto, Rice WineYogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker with Adjustable Time & Temperature, Multifunctional Yogurt Maker Machine with 1 Quart Glass Jars and Strainer for Yogurt, Greek Yogurt, Natto, Rice WineBear Yogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker Machine with Strainer and Timer Control, Stainless Steel Inner Pot, Automatic Digital with 2 Glass Jars 1 Quart for Home Organic Yogurt, Cheese, Fruit WineBear Yogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker Machine with Strainer and Timer Control, Stainless Steel Inner Pot, Automatic Digital with 2 Glass Jars 1 Quart for Home Organic Yogurt, Cheese, Fruit WineBear Yogurt Maker, Greek Yogurt Maker Machine with Strainer and Timer Control, Stainless Steel Inner Pot, Automatic Digital with 2 Glass Jars 1 Quart for Home Organic Yogurt, Cheese, Fruit Wine

 

Making Quark with a Yogurt Maker with PHOTOS

how to make quark

My Dash Greek Yogurt Maker

Pour all Ingredients into the Yogurt Maker… set it for 13 hours… and walk away

how to make quark

It will look like this after 13 hours

Notice that there is a separation between the Creamy stuff and  the “whey”, the clear stuff

how to make quark

Put the strainer into the other container that comes with the maker, and pour the quark and liquid in to strain.

Pour the contents of the yogurt maker into a FINE strainer over another container. Strain for at least 12 hours. 

how to make quark

After 12 hours of straining

Pour of the whey from the bottom container… (If it looks like there is a lot of thick creamy stuff at the bottom, you can send that back through the strainer for another 12 hours)

https://amzn.to/2xaDz4U

Whey over thick cream.. Pour off the whey, and possibly restrain the creamy part

how to make quark

And you’ve made Quark!

 

 

Using a Cheese Making Method to Make Quark

Gudrun Hommel sent me to this site for information about making Quark using a cheese making method. She says she’s had success, and that it’s easy to do. You need to order buttermilk culture from the company to make it work. The company is reputable, I’ve used another of their products, and there are lots of step-by-step instructions.

A Recipe for Making Quark– http://www.cheesemaking.com/Quark.html


how to make quark

 

26 thoughts on “How to Make Quark- Make Creamy German Quark with a Yogurt Maker

  1. I just strain plain joghurt over night.It is very close to Quark.It just works with Dannon joghurt

  2. could you send me a recipe please. nothing on here at this side.

  3. I have not made it yet but a good friend of mine from Straubing her and her Mom both had made it many times and it is simpler then any of the above.
    Take original yogurt, drain overnight in Coffee Filter and there you have it.

    1. I have to try that… It sounds like making Yogurt Cheese!

    2. It has worked for me too, and it is as close to Quark as can be, good alternative to the real thing.

  4. I use Astro Original, Balkan style 6 % Yogpurt, put it in a strainer covert with a cheesecloth over night. I make a lot of cheese cake and it is rearly good, or on home made bread und jam or Rübenkraut.

  5. I used 4 quarts of buttermilk (whole, not low fat), poured it in a baking pan. 2 hours in oven at 175’, then I took it out, added 1 teaspoonful of lemon, stirred gently. 20 minutes later it was ready to be strained through a cheese cloth. Absolutely delicious.

  6. When making cheesecake I just use cottage cheese , but the one recommended for lasagna which is a little creamier. I place it in a food processor and run it until it is almost as fine a real quark .

  7. I have my second batch going in my yogurt maker right now. I tried some Liebe quark my Wegman’s just got in stock, and I knew I had to try to make it. This is just as creamy and tasty. It’s so much easier than yogurt. I used 48 oz of milk and 3 oz buttermilk in the bigger dash container then use a large greek yogurt strainer I got off Amazon. This has changed my life. I’m totally a quark convert. Thank you so much!

  8. I can’t wait to try this! I had quark for the first time from Whole Foods, but it’s too expensive to buy regularly. This looks easier to make than yogurt. Thanks so much for posting this recipe!

  9. I am wondering if I can use the yogurt setting on my instant pot to make this.

    1. I honestly don’t know, I’ve never used an instant pot. Perhaps someone else will see this and give us an answer?

    2. Rita, I was wondering if you tried this in your insta pot? I’m thinking it should work. I am going to try it using my insta pot. Thank You!

  10. Hi Karin, It says that the Dash Greek Yogurt Maker is currently unavailable on Amazon. Do you know where else we can find one? Thanks

    1. I just looked… there’s one available for $350!!! HAHAHAHAHA
      Sigh

      Ok. I think any Greek yogurt maker should do it. It’s about the low heat and strainer. The Bear one has good ratings.

  11. I made this recipe twice. The first time it turned out perfectly and the 2nd not at all?! I used the DASH yogurt system both times. I’m wondering if there is a way to save the 2nd batch, which is very very runny still?

    1. Maybe Strain a bit and run it through the yogurt maker again?

  12. I look forward to trying this! You can use whey as the liquid in yeast bread recipes. Probably also those calling for buttermilk as it would have the acid in it needed to react with the baking soda.

  13. Often can’t find buttermilk… I generally do the Tbsp lemon juice in a quart of milk to substitute… Would that work here?

    1. I use that same substitution when baking, but I haven’t tried it for Quark…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




error: Content is protected !!